Jeremy Casey

Sheffield United have been given permission to talk to manager Chris Wilder about taking the top job at Bramall Lane after making an official approach.

The Blades sacked Nigel Adkins on Thursday morning, and have moved quickly to try and secure the services of Town manager Wilder, with chairman Kelvin Thomas admitting he expects the deal to be done ‘in the neext 24 hours’.

Permission has been granted to the Blades to talk to the Cobblers boss by Thomas, and it seems certain that Wilder and his assisant Alan Knill will be switching to south Yorkshire.

A Cobblers club statement read: “Northampton Town Football Club can confirm that the club has received an official approach from Sheffield United Football Club for the services of manager Chris Wilder and assistant manager Alan Knill.

“Due to release clauses in their existing contracts, the club have regrettably given permission for talks to take place.”

Thomas said: “Sheffield United contacted us this morning to speak to Chris and Alan, and in truth I would expect the deal to be completed in the next 24 hours.

“As I have said all the way through this process, I wanted things to be done quickly.

“I never wanted to lose Chris or Alan, but I think everybody will understand that Sheffield United will be a big pull for him.

“We have had to plan for it (Wilder leaving) since Monday, and I will be pretty surprised if this deal is not wrapped up quickly.”

If and when Wilder is appointed Sheffield United manager, it will be something of a dream move for him, as he was born in Sheffield, still lives in Sheffield, is a former Sheffield United player, and supports the club.

Wilder has been at the Cobblers since January 2014, and in his 28 months at the club he steered them away from the threat of relegation out of the Football League, to the Sky Bet League Two title, which was secured last month.

Sheffied United sacked Adkins after an 11th-placed finish in Sky Bet League One.

The Blades, who will be rivals to the Cobblers next season, went into the campaign as favourites for automatic promotion, but struggled all season.